Apple tree, &#39;Eppich 2&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of apple tree is described, and which is characterized as to novelty by producing fruit having a brilliant red color, increased fruit pressure, increased brix, and further having a harvesting date about September 8, under the ecological conditions prevailing near Mesa, Wash.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW VARIETY

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of apple tree, “Malus Pumila” and which is named “Eppich 2,” and more particularly to an apple tree which bears an attractive, brilliant red colored fruit, and which is further ripe for harvesting and shipment about September 8^(th) under the ecological conditions prevailing near Mesa, Wash.

Origin and Asexual Reproduction

It has long been recognized that an important factor contributing to the success of any new variety of apple tree bearing fruit for the fresh market is its respective date of harvesting in relative comparison to other varieties bearing similar fruit in the same season. Similarly, another significant factor effecting the commercial viability of any new strain of apple relates to its appearance, as well as its storage characteristics as reflected by such pomological characteristics as the starch level, and fruit pressure of same.

The new variety “Eppich 2” is noteworthy in producing an attractively colored fruit which is ripe for harvesting and shipment at approximately September 8^(th) under the ecological conditions prevailing near Mesa, Wash. Further, this new tree produces a fruit which has excellent storage starch levels and increased fruit pressure and brix in relative comparison to the variety its most closely similar to.

The new variety of apple tree (“Malus Pumila”) was discovered as a whole tree mutation within the cultivated area of a TAC 114 Fuji orchard (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,032) which is located near Mesa Wash. The inventor noticed the promising characteristics of this whole tree mutation in 1998. Thereafter, the inventor observed the tree for several additional years, and thereafter, in 2001, asexually reproduced the tree by budding the same tree over to test trees then planted at a commercial orchard located near Mesa, Wash.

These test trees have been subsequently studied and observed and its been determined that the same desirable characteristics observed in the original whole tree mutation were expressed in these same test trees. Additionally, the fruit produced from these same trees have been compared and contrasted with the fruit produced by TAC 114 Fuji apple trees growing in the same orchard where the original whole tree mutation was discovered. It has been confirmed that these earlier asexual reproductions resulted in apple trees which possess the same distinctive characteristics as the original whole tree mutation.

SUMMARY OF THE VARIETY

The Eppich 2 apple tree is characterized principally as to novelty by producing an attractively colored fruit which is ripe for harvesting and shipment approximately September 3^(rd)-September 12^(th) under the ecological conditions prevailing near Mesa, in the south central portion of Washington State. The present variety also displays excellent storage starch levels, increased fruit pressure and brix, as well as increased fruit weight in relative comparison to the fruit produced by the TAC 114 Fuji apple tree (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,032) at the same geographical location.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are color photographs of the present variety.

FIG. 1 illustrates the original whole tree mutation as seen growing in an orchard of TAC 114 Fuji apple trees (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,032) which is growing near Mesa, Wash.

FIG. 2 shows the growth habit of the Eppich 2 apple tree.

FIG. 3 shows four fruit of the present variety showing the exterior skin coloration sufficiently matured for harvesting and shipment.

FIG. 4 shows the lenticel growth characteristics of the present variety as displayed on one year old wood.

The colors in the enclosed photographs are as nearly true as is reasonably possible in color photographs of this type. However, due to chemical development, processing and printing, the leaves and fruit depicted in these photographs may or may not be accurate when compared to the actual botanical specimens. For this reason, future color references should be made to the color plates (Royal Horticulture Society) and descriptions provided hereinafter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring more specifically to the pomological details of this new and distinct variety of apple tree, the following has been observed under the ecological conditions prevailing at a test orchard which is located near Mesa, Wash. The major color code designations are by reference to the Royal Horticulture Society, London, 1996, common color names are also employed occasionally.

-   Tree:     -   -   Size.—Generally — Average as compared to other apple             cultivars growing under similar ecological conditions.         -   Figure.—Upright to upright spreading in form.         -   Vigor.—Moderate.         -   Productivity.—Considered productive. The present variety             shows a propensity for bi-annual bearing following a heavy             crop year. Productivity is dependent upon cultural practices             and therefore this aspect is not particularly distinctive of             the variety.         -   Trunk.—Generally — Considered stocky and similar to the TAC             114 Fuji apple tree from which it was derived as a whole             tree mutation.         -   Surface texture.—Smooth and similar to that of the TAC 114             Fuji apple tree.         -   Bark color.—Gray Brown (197A). This is in contrast to the             TAC 114 Fuji apple tree which produces a bark color which is             gray-brown (199D).         -   Branches.—Size — Generally average as compared to other             apple cultivars.         -   Growth habit.—Generally considered spreading and moderately             heavy in amount. The branches typically have wide angles. As             a general matter branching on the Eppich 2 apple tree is             moderate to moderately heavy on two year old wood. This is             mostly fruiting spurs. In contrast, the branching habit of             the TAC 114 Fuji apple tree with which it is most closely             similar, is moderate with few fruiting spurs on two year old             wood.         -   Bark color.—1 year old wood — Gray-orange (166A). In             contrast, the bark color of the TAC 114 Fuji apple tree has             a gray-orange bark color which is most accurately             characterized as (177A).         -   Lenticels.—Shape — On 1 year old wood, these are considered             small and round. In relative comparison to the TAC 114 Fuji             apple tree, the lenticels observed on same are generally             twice as large, and are elongated on the same age of wood.         -   Regularity of bearing.—Regular. Further, the present variety             is considered hardy under the ecological conditions             prevailing near Mesa, Wash. -   Leaves:     -   -   Size.—Average as compared to other common varieties.         -   Leaf shape.—Considered broadly acute and mostly serrate with             some bi-serrate.         -   Top surface texture.—Generally — The top surface is green             (144A) and shiny. Further, the leaves may display an             undulating surface with some upwardly folding of the sides.         -   Bottom surface texture.—Considered pubescent and similar in             appearance to that of the TAC 114 Fuji apple tree.         -   Mid-rib.—Shape — Straight to slightly curved on both the             present variety and the TAC 114 Fuji apple tree.         -   Leaf length.—About 8.3 centimeters. This is in contrast to             the TAC 114 Fuji apple tree which, on average, produces a             leaf length of about 8.99 centimeters.         -   Leaf width.—About 5.64 centimeters. This is in contrast to             the leaf width of the TAC 114 Fuji apple tree which is about             6.13 centimeters.         -   Petiole length.—About 3.35 centimeters. This is in contrast             to the TAC 114 Fuji apple tree which has a petiole length of             about 2.92 centimeters.         -   Stipule length.—About 0.9 centimeters. This is in contrast             to the TAC 114 Fuji apple tree that, on average, has a             stipule length of about 1.05 centimeters. -   Flowers:     -   -   Bloom time.—Considered midseason as compared to other apple             varieties growing in south central Washington. The present             variety had an observed bloom date of Apr. 7-15, 2005 under             the ecological conditions prevailing near Mesa, Wash.         -   Petals.—Color — White (N-155D) and having highlights which             appear red-purple, and most accurately identified as (70B).             This color is similar to the petal colors produced by the             TAC 114 Fuji apple tree.         -   Petal.—Size — About 16-19 millimeters long; and about 11-14             millimeters in width. This petal size is in contrast to that             produced by the TAC 114 Fuji apple tree which has a petal             size of about 13 to about 15 millimeters in width; and about             18-20 millimeters in length.         -   Stamens.—Length — About 8-11 millimeters. This is in             contrast to the TAC 114 Fuji apple tree which has a stamen             length of about 6 to about 9 millimeters.         -   Anthers.—Length — About 2.5 millimeters. In contrast the             anthers found on the TAC 114 Fuji apple tree have a length             of about 2.5 to about 3 millimeters.         -   Anthers.—Width — About 1.5 millimeters.         -   Pistil.—Length — About 5 to about 9 millimeters. This is in             contrast to the pistil length as found on the TAC 114 Fuji             apple tree which is about 6 to about 10 millimeters in             length.         -   Sepals.—Length — About 6 millimeters. This is in contrast to             the sepals found on the TAC 114 Fuji apple tree which are             about 7 millimeters.         -   Sepals.—Form — Considered pubescent and curled downwardly.             This growth habit does not appear distinctive of the present             variety. -   Fruit:     -   -   Size.—Generally speaking, the fruit is considered medium to             large for the variety. On average, the present variety is             about 3.46 inches in diameter. This is in contrast to the             fruit produced by the TAC 114 Fuji apple tree at the same             geographical location which has an average diameter of about             3.02 inches.         -   Fruit form.—Generally — Considered mostly round, although             some round and conical forms may be found. In contrast, the             TAC 114 Fuji apple tree produces mostly round fruit.         -   Fruit cavity.—Average Width — About 3.97 centimeters. This             is in contrast to the fruit produced by the TAC 114 Fuji             apple tree which has a fruit cavity of about 3.40             centimeters.         -   Fruit cavity.—Average depth — About 1.87 centimeters. This             is in contrast to the fruit of the TAC 114 Fuji apple tree             which produces a stem cavity depth of about 1.65             centimeters.         -   Fruit eye.—Generally — Having a reflexed tip. This is in             contrast to the TAC 114 Fuji apple tree which has a mostly             erect convergent form, although some divergent forms may             also be found.         -   Stem length.—About 2.25 centimeters. The fruit stems             observed on the TAC 114 Fuji apple tree has an average stem             length of about 2.1 centimeters.         -   Skin.—Overall appearance — Smooth and distinct.         -   Lenticels.—Numbers — Moderate in number and distinct. The             lenticels are larger in size than that produced on the TAC             114 Fuji apple tree. In this regard, the lenticels are about             0.3 to about 1 millimeter in diameter and flattened in form.             In contrast, the TAC 114 apple tree produces fruit which             have numerous lenticels. Further, these same lenticels have             an average size of about 0.1 to about 0.3 millimeters.         -   Skin color.—Generally — Considered highly colored and             blushed with a very light stripe. In this regard, the over             color is in the red group (45C to about 47B); and the ground             color is in the yellow group of about (5C). In contrast, the             fruit produced by the TAC 114 Fuji apple tree is considered             blushed with an over color of about (46B) and a ground color             of about (5B).         -   Flesh color.—White (155D).         -   Brix.—The average brix of the present variety is about 15.2.             This is in contrast to the brix produced by the fruit of the             TAC 114 Fuji apple tree which is about 12.8.         -   Fruit pressure.—On average, the present variety has a fruit             pressure of about 17.1. In contrast, the fruit pressure             observed in the fruit of the TAC 114 Fuji apple tree is             about 15.9.         -   Starch index rating.—On average, about 3.4. This is in             contrast to the starch rating of the fruit of the TAC 114             Fuji apple tree which is about 4.3.         -   Aroma.—Generally — Considered moderately strong and             distinct.         -   Core line.—Considered medium for the variety. This is in             contrast to the fruit of the TAC 114 apple tree which is             considered basal and clasping.         -   Core position.—Generally speaking it is considered distant.             In contrast, in the fruit of the TAC 114 apple tree, the             core portion is considered medium to distant.         -   Cell.—Form — Considered tufted.         -   Cell.—Shape — Considered round.         -   Seeds.—Numbers — As many as 2. In contrast, the fruit of the             TAC 114 Fuji apple tree may have as many as 3 seeds.         -   Seed.—Shape — Considered acute.         -   Seed color.—Considered grey-orange (166A).         -   Tube.—Shape — Funnel Shaped.         -   Sepals.—Surface texture — Downy.         -   Stamens.—Position — Considered median and above the core             line.         -   Axis.—Generally speaking, it is considered axial and mostly             closed. This is in contrast to the fruit produced by the TAC             114 Fuji apple tree which is considered to be abiaxial and             open.         -   Fruit basin.—Average width — About 3.78 centimeters. This is             in contrast to the fruit produced by the TAC 114 Fuji apple             tree which has an average width of about 3.08 centimeters.         -   Fruit basin.—Average depth — About 1.53 centimeters. This is             in contrast to the fruit of the TAC 114 Fuji apple tree             which has an average depth of about 1.10 centimeters. Date             of maturity when described ripe for harvesting and shipment             about Sep. 8, 2004 under the ecological conditions             prevailing near Mesa, Wash. This date may vary based upon             the prevailing ecological conditions.         -   Pollination.—This characteristic is satisfied by other             diploid stains which are blooming approximately during the             same bloom period.         -   Eating quality.—Considered excellent and useful as a fresh             dessert apple.

Although the new variety of apple tree herein denominated as Eppich 2 possesses the described characteristics when grown under the ecological conditions prevailing near Mesa, Wash., it is to be understood that variations of the usual magnitude and characteristics incident to changes in growing conditions, fertilization, pruning and pest control are to be expected. 

1. A new and distinct variety of apple tree substantially as illustrated and described, and which is similar in some characteristics to that of the ‘TAC 114 Fuji’ apple tree (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,032), but which is distinguished therefrom, and characterized as to novelty by producing a highly colored apple having an increased size, excellent storage starch levels, and increased fruit pressure as compared to the fruit produced by the ‘TAC 114 Fuji’ apple tree when grown under the ecological conditions prevailing near Mesa, Wash. 